Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely young daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.

Here are the topics the panel discusses Friday night at 6:30 on InterCHANGE on Milwaukee Public Television with a repeat Sunday morning at 11:00:

1 – Barrett & Obama.

President Obama is coming to Milwaukee Monday to campaign for Tom Barrett.Lunch Tickets are $250, and pictures with the president are $10,000.Barrett will likely raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for his campaign in this one day.Is there anyone that Walker or Neumann could bring in with the fundraising ability of a sitting president?At this point in time, is being supported by Obama a positive or a negative in the eyes of voters?Does Barrett really have to keep his distance from the unpopular Doyle during this campaign?The latest Rasmussen Poll still shows Walker with a lead over Barrett.Has the Barrett Machine, not “tuned it on” yet?Has the media been treating Neumann like “that other candidate?”By the way, will the incredibly media savvy Obama use his appearance in Milwaukee Monday to announce that he has ordered FEMA to free up money for individual property owners who have financial hardships because of the recent flooding?

2 – Milwaukee Water Rates.

Milwaukee Water Works requested rate increases have some of the suburbs extremely upset.They say they will have to raise the rates in their communities 20, 30, even 40 percent.Even in the City of Milwaukee the average residential bill would rise about 30%.The suburbs accuse Milwaukee of wanting to raise water rates because it can’t come up with enough in property taxes and fees to handle city expenses.They say this is balancing the city budget on the backs of suburban water users.The Public Service Commission will make the final decision, but do the suburbs have a legitimate complaint, or should Milwaukee be able to charge whatever it wants for the water it processes and then sells?The ironic thing is that while residents and businesses conserve and cut their water usage, Milwaukee Water Works complains that their own expenses continue to rise.So, even though people are using less water, MWW says they need more money to keep the operation going.One must wonder though, why water would be even a little expensive for a community that sits on one of the Great Lakes, the largest supply of freshwater in the world?Is Milwaukee artificially raising the value of the water, as it tries to become an international water hub?Raising rates as water becomes a more valuable natural resource?Wouldn’t cheap water do more to attract new business?

3 – Gay Marriage.

The federal judge who overturned the voter approved ban on gay marriage in California was to decide if the marrying of gay couples should be allowed to resume immediately, or if it should be delayed while the appeal process takes place.Granted, this is California, but if a federal judge in an extremely lengthy opinion finds the law to be unconstitutional, it seems that other federal judges could find the laws in other states unconstitutional as well.Will the wishes of the majority voters in the states that have these laws be overruled by judges who decide it is a constitutional matter, and not simply a matter of public opinion?Wisconsin has also banned gay marriage, and has enacted a constitutional amendment prohibiting it. (“Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state”) Could this be challenged now as well?

This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.